3. But Joab replied, “May the lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?”
4. But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab traveled throughout all Israel to count the people. Then he returned to Jerusalem
5. and reported the number of people to David. There were 1,100,000 warriors in all Israel who could handle a sword, and 470,000 in Judah.
6. But Joab did not include the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the census because he was so distressed at what the king had made him do.
7. God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it.